The public is invited to the annual Water Take 1 Short Film Contest awards presentation and party hosted by Brooks Institute of Photography from 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

The festivities will kick off with a screening of the contest's Top 10 short films, followed by the announcement of the Water Take 1 winners in three categories: Audience Choice Award, Best Student Film Award and the jury-awarded Grand Prize. The institute is at 27 E. Cota St.

Larissa Strauss and Deborah Jarchow will display their art in a show titled "Meditations" at Fox Fine Jewelry from Thursday through Jan. 12. An artists' reception will be from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 10 at the store, 210 E. Main St.

Strauss is known for her 26-foot mosaic wall that welcomes visitors to Ventura's Marina Beach Park. Jarchow is a leading expert in Ventura County on fiber arts.

For more information, call Debbie Fox at 652-1800.

Boutique to benefit society animals

The Humane Society of Ventura County will showcase its "Purrs & Paws Holiday Marketplace" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Balboa Middle School cafeteria, 247 Hill Road.

Local artisans will sell handmade gifts and gift baskets, home and holiday décor, fashion accessories for people and pets, jewelry and glassware to benefit the animals of the Humane Society.

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.hsvc.org. For vendor information, call Heather at 646-6505.

School to host first fall festival

The Holy Cross School at San Buenaventura Mission will hold its first fall festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10.

The Ventura County Concert Band will pay tribute to military veterans with a performance titled "A Salute to Veterans" at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 on the Ventura High School auditorium stage. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.

Sousa marches, patriotic singalongs and the best of Broadway show tunes will relive their popularity as played by the Ventura County Concert Band. Band members are volunteer musicians from the community.

Admission is free. Ventura High is at 2 N. Catalina St. For more information, call 407-6851.

Documentary to honor Bradbury

Filmmaker Michael O'Kelly will unveil his documentary "Live Forever — The Ray Bradbury Odyssey," on Nov. 11 as a fundraiser for the San Buenaventura Friends of the Library and the Ventura Film Society.

Three years in the making, the film is O'Kelly's tribute to the science fiction and literary icon, who died in June in Los Angeles at age 91.

The screening is from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Century 10 Theatre, 555 E. Main St.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association has begun its 28th Annual Light Up A Life campaign.

The beginning of the campaign coincides with National Hospice and Palliative Care month and runs through the holiday season. The campaign goal is to raise $50,000 to benefit Livingston Hospice, the first Medicare Certified hospice in Ventura County.

Livingston invites all residents of Ventura County to support this year's Light Up campaign. Memory Stars can be ordered online for $25 each at www.livingstonvna.org or by calling 642-0239. Event sponsorship is also available.

Donate items for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Basket Drive by Teen Voice will operate on five local Ventura campuses to collect food items through Nov. 16 to provide a full Thanksgiving dinner to low-income families.

City staff and all high schools are donating the perishable items, but the public is invited to drop off nonperishable goods at a dozen participating Starbucks locations.